Tennis' roots started in North Wales

THE 13th century town of Ruthin may be most famous for its fortified castle, its restored Old County Gaol in Clwyd Street dating from 1775 and its thriving livestock market where canny farmers try to spy a bargain and chat over a paned.

THE 13th century town of Ruthin may be most famous for its fortified castle, its restored Old County Gaol in Clwyd Street dating from 1775 and its thriving livestock market where canny farmers try to spy a bargain and chat over a paned.

But its natives are also justly proud of their unique niche in the history of tennis. It was in Nantclwyd Hall at Pwllglas a mile or two from Ruthin that a rough and ready ball game became the forerunner to the modern game of tennis.

There in 1873 Major Walter Wingfield played a game with the recently invented rubber balls and enjoyed it so much, he decided to turn it into a proper sport. He published the first book of tennis rules later that year.

And in 1874, he patented the rules of the sport which he termed "sphairistike" which is Greek for ball game.

He launched a tennis package kit, which included a net, rackets and rubber balls selling 1,000 kits before you could play a five-setter.

It was in 1877 that the first tennis match was played at Wimbledon and the British Lawn Tennis Association formed in 1888.

Today Nantclwyd Hall, the home of Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland, is a private residence which opens its stunning Italianate gardens once a year and boasts a private family court for the family to continue the tradition.

Nearby, Ruthin Tennis Club members recently watched their former starlet Ian Flanagan - ranked 866 in the world - sensationally beat 2003 Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis at the Stella Artois Championship at Queen's.

Sadly, Ian, 22, of Graianrhyd near Ruthin, failed to gain a wildcard entry for Wimbledon and lost a qualifier to Israeli Andy Ram, ranked 358, in Roehampton soon afterwards.

But his star still shines as far as Ruthin Tennis Club is concerned. After all his dad George is chairman and his mum Sheila is junior organiser on the committee.

Secretary Dr Tony Lyon said: "Everyone is very impressed with Ian. We knew he was good - but not that good! Young players here will think 'If he can do that, maybe I can'. There is always a surge of interest during and just after Wimbledon so I hope we can capitalise on Ian's success with some new members."

Tony remembers playing Ian as a 16 or 17-year-old - and losing.

"I was aware this was a different class of player. His touch shots were so much better and I really enjoyed playing him because he was so well-behaved."

And the next generation of players from Ruthin will have an even stronger start. Ruthin Tennis Club has just gained planning permission to relocate from its cramped, two-court base near Ruthin School to a purpose-built six-court complex at Cae Ddol half a mile away.